An SUV spotted with the help of a drone and pulled out of Lake Merritt is linked to the deaths of a man and woman a week earlier, Oakland police said.

An SUV spotted with the help of a drone and pulled out of Lake Merritt is linked to the deaths of a man and woman a week earlier, Oakland police said.

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Officers from the coroner�s office remove the body of a woman along the shoreline of Lake Merritt after two people fell into the water and drowned before daylight in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, March 15, 2018. A man died in the hospital and a woman’s body was recovered by fire department divers. Witnesses reported hearing an altercation before the two had to be recovered from the lake. less

Officers from the coroner�s office remove the body of a woman along the shoreline of Lake Merritt after two people fell into the water and drowned before daylight in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, March 15, … more

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

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A Police officer looks for evidence along the shoreline of Lake Merritt after two people fell into the water and drowned before daylight in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, March 15, 2018. A man died in the hospital and a woman’s body was recovered by fire department divers. Witnesses reported hearing an altercation before the two had to be recovered from the lake. less

A Police officer looks for evidence along the shoreline of Lake Merritt after two people fell into the water and drowned before daylight in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, March 15, 2018. A man died in the … more

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

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Police officers investigate along the shoreline of Lake Merritt after two people fell into the water and drowned before daylight in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, March 15, 2018. A man died in the hospital and a woman’s body was recovered by fire department divers. Witnesses reported hearing an altercation before the two had to be recovered from the lake. less

Police officers investigate along the shoreline of Lake Merritt after two people fell into the water and drowned before daylight in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, March 15, 2018. A man died in the hospital and a … more

More than a week after the deaths of a man and woman who were pulled from Oakland’s Lake Merritt, police on Monday recovered the man’s SUV from the water after spotting it with a drone, providing a clue in the case.

Early on March 15, police responded to Lakeshore and Hanover avenues after reports that a man and woman appeared to be drowning after arguing.

Four officers spotted Michael Grace, 39, of Oakland, in the water and jumped in to save him. Despite efforts to administer CPR, Grace died after being transported to Highland Hospital.

His girlfriend, 24-year-old Tayana Johnson, also of Oakland, was pulled from the water nearly three hours later by divers. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

It’s still unclear how and why the dispute turned deadly, but the maroon sport utility vehicle recovered Monday was registered to Grace, police said. The vehicle was found by an Alameda County Sheriff’s Office drone.

Family members told police that the pair were dating. Johnson’s death is being investigated as a homicide, while Grace’s death is being investigated as accidental, police said.